Ramblings

What am I doing up at 3:15a.m.? Well, since I went to bed at 8:45pm, this is just a break. I've been fighting a cold and it knocked me flat yesterday. I'm so stuffed up and congested I can't think straight. But I still have so much to get ready for, since tonight is our big family celebration. We will be going to my brother's place (he has a HUGE house) where about 25 family members get together each year for a traditional Lithuanian meal of kugelas and kilbasa. This is for me and my brother. We don't care what the others think about it, it's our tradition and our party, but they all seem to want to be a part of it and it gets bigger each year. We started this after my mom died, and Christmas was so dull and lacking in spirit without her. Anyhow, I need to make the salsa (does that go with Lithuanian? who cares) and wrap one more white elephant gift, pack all the presents in the car, make sure I have my meds packed for the restless legs, pack my jammies for tonight at my son's, and do some basic body maintenance.

My son, Chad, came for Christmas. We picked him up at the train station in Bellingham on Christmas Eve. We had already been to the neighbors for dinner and our usual celebration and gift giving with them. Then Judy and I went to Chrismas Eve services at a local church. It was wonderful.

Christmas day we opened a few presents. Chad and I took a two mile walk. It was just beautiful out, but oh so cold! About 24 degrees! By the turn around point, we were finally warm, and for the rest of the walk, I was stripping off hat, scarf, gloves.

Then we all went to Nancy's house for our Christmas Day celebration. Nancy started this a few years back for all of us who didn't have kids in the area to be with on Christmas Day. There are 5 couples, and then Chad joined us. Nancy did a great job of preparing food that Chad could eat, since he is vegan. And Alan made an eggplant lasagna, totally vegan, to die for!!! I was really skeptical about it, since I haven't been too excited about the vegan cheeses we have tried, but this was a hit! Nancy makes this incredible Italian beef, and had brought her favorite relishes home from the Chicago area from her trip there this last summer. Sport peppers, giardinera. She's an incredible cook, and we spent 6 hours eating and talking.

And then, like I said, I crashed. I had to take Chad to the train station first, though.

So, it's time for me to go back to bed and rest up for another day of eating and drinking and good cheer!!!!

Wrapping Up

I'm finally getting things finished and able to wrap them and get them under the tree. For awhile there, it seemed it wouldn't happen.






This is a gift basket for my friend.
She loves Faeries, especially garden faeries,



So I made this table topper for her.

Then here are the table runner and dish towel I made for another friend. She loves retro.

Can't show anything else. Don't want to give away the surprises.

We are scrambling to get packages in the mail and looking forward to seeing the kids this weekend. I don't know if I will have time to post anything until after the 27th, so Merry Merry to you all.

I won Again!

I have been pretty lucky these past couple of months. First, in November I won that beautiful apron from Bonnie at Calamity Jane's Cottage, and now, WOW. This package arrived yesterday from Royce at A Creative Urge. If you don't know Royce, you should. She has been part of my Birthday Block exchange and her work is sublime. She does some of the most incredibly detailed work. So in addition to quilting and making Artist Trading Cards, she makes buttons and beads. When I entererd this giveaway, I thought I would get one or two of the featured items, but look at this! I LOVE buttons, and embelish all kinds of things with them. I have to say the acorn is my favorite. To the right of the button cards is a pair of beautiful earrings that didn't show up so well in the pic. Then at the top is that adorable snowman sculpture. Royce, thank you so much! I am just as thrilled as can be with these goodies.
Now, I'm waiting by the chimney to see if Santa from The Fat Quarter Shop delivers, as I'm sure you all are. It's sorta hard for me, though, since I don't have a chimney. That reminds me of a story.

When I was young and my Dad was still stationed overseas in Japan, Santa snuck in through a bedroom window and left our presents there while we were having our Christmas Eve dinner with my grandparents!!! It was so amazing! My Mom was so creative. She said Santa knew that Granma and Granpa would want to see us open our presents, so he put us first on his list of stops. Of course, since we were eating in the dining room, in full view of the fireplace, he had to find another entry way. He brought me a doll bed. I don't remember what my brother got, because I was so entranced. It was hard, not having my Daddy at home for such a long time, but Mom made these occaisions so special for us.

Today I'm hoping to get some more sewing done. Fortunately, I have until the 27th to get everything finished. That is when my family all gets together. I haven't even cut out the jammie bottoms for the boys yet, but theirs are easier than the girls', so will go together like a breeze. And, since the Open House, my studio has crept out into the store again. Gasp! Hey, I need a cutting table, don't I?

Please Excuse Linda as she was Insane

Pat seemed to get a real kick out of my misspelling in yesterday's blog. You old teacher you. Well, I made more than one. When I told you about my dress being outside the car for the trip, I said it was two "houses" when I meant two hours. I was just a tad bit rummy yesterday. Starting with the title of the post, it went downhill from there. You should go back and read it again. Sounds more like I'm drunk than anything else.

I've mentioned before that I have Restless Leg Syndrome. I forgot to pack my medication for it when I packed for the night. We spent the night at my son's in Seattle. I did not get a wink of sleep. Well, maybe a couple of winks, but that is literal. I would doze off for half of a second and then a spasm would wake me up. I went upstairs for coffee at about 4am and managed to spill it all over their rug when I dozed off enough to losen my hold on the coffee cup. It was a miserable ride home. We stopped 5 times so I could walk or run around a bit, hoping to wear the bugs out, but to no avail. When I got home I popped a big dose of my meds and walked over to talk to my neighbor and cousin who had just returned from their morning walk. Then I tried washing the barn, but kept falling asleep on my feet. At that point, I felt I could probably go to sleep without my legs interferring. I crawled into bed at about 9:30am and slept until 2pm.



I've mentioned the restless legs in here before. It is a terrible condition. I actually told my husband yesterday that if I didn't know I had meds waiting for me at home to relieve this, I would ask him to put me down. My family knows that my brain is to be donated to the RLS Foundation when I die for research. I'm glad there is something of value my brain can be used for besides clown school. If you know anyone with RLS, be sympathetic. It's awful.



But notice the pretty pictures I posted? The first one is of my meal at Palisades. It's Seared swordfish with lemongrass, cilantro and chili sauce. The second one is my hubby's which is seared ahi tuna with sushi. I will admit, I had the trio of creme brulees for dessert.



This is the tree in the lobby. Just for filler. I like to post lots of pictures, and since I was in bed all day yesterday, well, you know.



Today I "get" to roll buckeyes. This cookie tray thing is hubby's, but I always have to help with the buckeyes, and then I make a big batch of spritz cookies. You know I have alot of sewing to do.

nother Day Closer

Thought you would like to see all of my quilt blocks lined up for my quilt. I think it's going to make a pretty nice quilt. Since there are so many colors, I think I will use a neutral beige on beige to sash it all together, and let the blocks speak for themselves.


















A while back, I found this bag of fabric and quilt strips sewn tother at a thrift shop. Got the entire bag for $1.50. Well, yesterday, I got to looking at it and trying to decide where the original owner was going with it. The strips were already sewn together, and she seemed to be cutting blocks out of the strips. So, I continued, and wound up with a nice. long table runner.

Here is the block that Jo made for me.

I love how she calls me a Spring Chicken.

Lastly, we went down to Seattle to join the staff of DH's former employer's for Chrismas Dinner. I wanted to prove that I can clean up.!!!. We ate at a place called the Palisades. Ooooooooooooo, was it ever food. When I got out of the car, I discovered that part of my long skirt had been hanging out of the door for the entire trip from Nooksack. That's over two houses, friends! Fortuntely, it wasn't destroyed, just a bit wet and uncomfortabele.

Busy at Pieceful Afternoon

Though it was actually morning, I braved the icy roads and headed in to Bellingham to the home of Pieceful Afternoon, Jo. First on the agenda was a nice warm cuppa Gingerbread Tea with some Cranberry cookies. What a welcome. Jo is a wonderful gal and we had a great visit. She got me organized right away, my shortfall.

Here are the pilces of blocks all set out on her dining room table ready to be gathered up for you. It was quite a site, and very exciting to sort them out. Most of these will be mailed today. I have to admit, I'm missing a few return envelopes since I put them away so well during the Open Farm, I can't remember where they are. And Sara, your giveaway prize is alluding me. One again I stashed it away so no one would buy it, and now I have to figure out where that secret hiding place was. Or is. Don't worry too much, I'm sure I'll find it today.

Jo's DH thought I might enjoy seeing his office, and boy was he right. I took about a dozen pictures to send to my son, the baseball nut. He will go nuts over all of the baseball memorobilia in this small room.

I have to say this block exchange has been very enjoyable, and I just might have to have another one. If anyone had any ideas for a design for a siggie block, please share it with me, and we will go for another. I personally don't want to have to make more that 12 blocks, so we would keep it under control.

Tonight we get to put on our City clothes and get fancied up for a dinner in Seattle. DH's boss is taking us all out to dinner at a spiffy restaurant. We will spend the night at my son's place in Seattle, but will most likely not even see him. Good thing we have our own keys.

Times a runnin' out. Gotta get some sewing done before we head south to the City.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
I know I have been a naughty girl this year. But I was just trying to lighten your load and shorten your trip on Christmas Eve. Everyone thinks we live so far away. Actually, now that I think about it, alot of folks have compared Nooksack to the North Pole. Soooooooo, I'm practically next door to you! What was I thinking?
Well, ever since December rolled around, I have been really good, and I was hoping you would see how sincere I am and read my letter and bring me a gift this Christmas.
I have been bitten by the Love U bug. That's Love U by Deb Strain for Moda Fabrics.
I've been window shopping at the Fat Quarter Shop and have chosen a quilt kit that I really love. It's the Love Bug Quilt Kit. (For you bloggers out there that didn't know, Santa is working at the Fat Quarter Shop, filling up his bag for deliveries).
So, I only want one gift this year, Santa, just that quilt kit. No more dolls, and certainly not any more alpacas!
Your very good, well behaved and sincere friend,
Linda B.